Foam Free Flowers

At Middleton Lodge, our ethos is rooted in a focus on nature and this impacts all of the decisions we make across the entire estate. We are lucky to host lots of beautiful weddings and events here at the lodge, however we want to ensure that we are being considerate about minimising waste.

There is an overall movement within the wedding industry to be more sustainable—think less plastic flop flops, using seed paper or minimising stationary and being conscious with menu choices. One of our many commitments here at Middleton Lodge is to have a foam-free policy, so that all of the florists working with us follow our conscious approach. 

So what exactly does it mean to go foam-free? Well foam is the dark green spongy base which is used for floral displays. It is often used for flower arches and aisle displays, as it enables you to steer the placement and movement of flowers, as well as being a water supply. However it is a single-use plastic and also releases micro-plastics into the environment. One block of floral foam is equivalent to 10 plastic shopping bags. (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191210111651.htm)

There are however plenty of alternatives that ensure wedding displays are more biodegradable or can be recycled—so going foam-free doesn’t have to impact the beauty or creativity of flowers at our weddings. There’s chicken wire, which can be used wedding after wedding and can be recycled. Another option is moss, which can be used as a base in larger displays and is a natural alternative to floral foam. 

At Middleton Lodge we have also seen a trend for dried flowers recently, which can be re-used either within the couple and families’ homes or given as gifts at the end of the evening. Rachael Keegan, one of our 2022 brides, for example worked with the Artisan Dried Flower to create bouquets and bud vases with dried flowers. Another commitment we have ma